Korea Update: Halt the Massive US-led
War Game Set for August 18
Korea Update Daily
(August 9,2025) — South Korea’s military has confirmed that North Korea is dismantling propaganda loudspeakers along its borders in response to the South’s earlier removal of its own propaganda loudspeakers.
Returning to the current and seemingly contradictory situation: signs of inter-Korean gestures to reduce tension with small baby steps while Washington is scheming war in Northeast Asia.
Koreans demand stopping the large-scale US-led Ulchi Freedom Shield war game scheduled to start August 18 for two weeks. This theater-level joint war game simulates a full-scale war on the peninsula.
If the August–September ROK–US and ROK–US–Japan multinational drills proceed, a North Korea–China–Russia counter-drill cannot be ruled out. Heightened tensions on the peninsula would inevitably affect not only inter-Korean and US–North Korea talks but also the APEC summit in October. Postponing or canceling the drills would showcase South Korea’s independence to the world.
These are the Korean demands to halt the US-led war games: Thirty regional branches of the Candlelight Action movement demand an end to the war games.
Kim Se-dong, head of Dobong Candlelight Action, warns that during the upcoming US–ROK summit, Washington may pressure South Korea to act as its “aircraft carrier” in a war with China—risking severe economic damage and even becoming “a second Ukraine.”
He stressed that real national power lies with the people, not foreign military alliances, and accused the US of backing far-right forces, exploiting Korea’s economy, and threatening peace. The large-scale “Ulchi Freedom Shield” drill, starting August 18, will heighten tensions, worsen inter-Korean relations, and risk nuclear war, he said.
At the 152nd candlelight protest yesterday in Seoul, protesters chanted: “The candlelight is our national power. US Forces Korea, get out!” and “Stop the war-provoking drills!”
Call for Action: Demand that Washington take individual responsibility for refusing to stop the US-led war game and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
